Norwich plans 6 police station hearings

Mayor Peter Nystrom and the City Council have scheduled six informational sessions between today and Aug. 4 to give residents input on a planned $33.38 million police station to be built at 2-6 Cliff St.

What’s going on: Mayor Peter Nystrom and the City Council have scheduled six informational sessions between today and Aug. 4 to give residents input on a planned $33.38 million police station to be built at 2-6 Cliff St. Officials say more sessions are planned through the fall.

Chance for answers: In addition to the council, Police Chief Louis J. Fusaro Jr. and city financial officials will be on hand to answer questions after a presentation by Fusaro on the need for such a facility. Nystrom said a breakdown of the city’s debt service will be available, along with a “hypothesis” of how the police station’s bond structure would affect the rates.

What’s known so far: Last week, the council voted 5-1 to spend $100,000 as a nonrefundable down payment for the five properties that comprise the planned site. If the bond is approved by voters in November, the former 40,000-square-foot Sears building will be expanded to 60,000 square feet to accommodate the new department.

Times and dates: The first session takes place at 6 p.m. today in Room 335 at City Hall. Subsequent presentations are scheduled for 6 p.m. July 17 at the Otis Library Community Room; 10 a.m. July 21 at the Norwich American Legion, 456 Laurel Hill Ave.; 10 a.m. July 28 at the Otis Library Community Room; 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at Kelly Middle School; and 10 a.m. Aug. 4 at the Knights of Columbus, 47 S. Second Ave.

“We plan on doing informational sessions right up to the referendum, for any group that will have us,” Fusaro said.